When the time comes for a kitchen redo, you certainly should go with finishes and fixtures that you love. But make sure they fit current and up-and-coming cabinet and countertop trends before signing any contracts or swinging a demo hammer.

Countertop materials range from wood to plastics to metal to stone. Manufactured quartz—formed from stone chips, resins, and pigments—is edging out natural stone materials in popularity, thanks in part to its durability and its availability in zillions of colors.

Finding the right appliance, buying it, and getting it delivered and installed without hassles can be an aggravating experience. Fortunately, some area stores serve their customers well, and you don’t have to pay more to get this kind of treatment.

Whether you need to cover a kitchen backsplash, redo the floor in your powder room, or pick finishes and materials for an entire house, tile is a big part of many remodeling projects. But walk into a tile showroom or home improvement store, and you may be overwhelmed with options. Cement or porcelain? White or off-white subway tiles? Glass tiles etched and painted with songbirds or a marble mosaic that looks straight out of Pompeii?